What it is
Grip strength is how hard you can squeeze a dynamometer. Despite its simplicity it tracks closely with total-body muscle strength and is quick, cheap and reproducible.
Why it matters for longevity
In the large international PURE study, lower grip strength predicted higher all-cause and cardiovascular mortality — a stronger predictor than systolic blood pressure in that analysis. It is widely used as a marker of frailty and overall robustness, and complements biological age estimates.
What the evidence shows
The association is robust across populations, though as an observational marker it reflects general health rather than proving that training grip alone extends life. Strength is, however, directly trainable.
How to act on it
Build and preserve muscle with resistance training, and track grip as one easy datapoint within a broader strength and fitness programme.